Andrew followed Sarah into the bridge, wheezing after covering a distance of less than a hundred meters.
After enduring both mental and physical torment all day, the fact that he could still walk was a miracle. His will to survive had brought him this far.
"You're..." Raven recognized Andrew, anger in his eyes. He had led plenty of operations to hunt down Miss Fortune in the past.
"You're still alive?"
"Your job is to teach them how to operate the Leviathan and explain the functions of every device in this room."
"The faster they learn, the better your chances of survival. Understood?" Sarah's voice was full of authority.
Andrew finally couldn't hold himself up any longer and sank back to the floor, his voice weak.
"I can... Of course I can. Gangplank sent me because I know the Leviathan better than anyone."
"But could I have some water first? And preferably some bread, too. I'm really at my limit..."
His head lolled unsteadily, as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
"You're a prisoner and still dare to make so many demands?" Raven glared at Andrew, despising him.
"Calm down, Raven," Sarah said soothingly.
"Give him what he asked for. Our top priority is learning how to operate the Leviathan. Without him, this ship will be stranded at sea."
"...Aye, Captain." Raven forced down his anger, left the bridge, and went below deck to find water and food.
Then Sarah instructed Chief Engineer Sanchez, "I'll assign two more sailors to watch him. You'll have to put in some extra work tonight. Don't let him hold anything back. Get this ship moving as soon as possible."
"Aye, Captain!"
Three days later.
Hark couldn't afford to waste a moment. Before the ship had even fully docked, he leaped ashore and hurried straight to Gangplank's estate.
He hadn't slept a wink during the three days of the return voyage.
He'd never imagined that a simple surveillance mission could completely upend his worldview!
Hark piloted the Disguised Cargo Ship, keeping the Siren in sight the whole time and checking in with the Leviathan every half day.
Only after they had sailed far enough from Bilgewater did the Leviathan open up its engines and race around to cut off the Siren.
As the Leviathan drew closer, Hark grew bolder. He moved in closer still, close enough to make out every detail through his spyglass.
But what had he seen?
He'd seen the Mysterious Man with Greatsword cutting a swath through the Leviathan.
He'd seen a Magic Barrier rise in front of the Siren, blocking every shot.
He'd seen person after person leap into the sea, crying for help.
He'd seen the Leviathan fall silent at last, no more cannonballs flying and no more shouts of men fighting.
"Quick! Get us out of here!" Hark had screamed, desperate to leave those waters at once!
He stumbled up to the estate gates. Ignoring his exhaustion, he gasped to the guards, "Quick, tell Mr. Gangplank that Hark is back!"
Once inside the estate, Hark gave Gangplank a detailed account of everything he'd seen along the way.
"This was my oversight. I never expected that Bald Mage to be so powerful," Gangplank said, his expression dark.
"Having just one of them would let Miss Fortune throw her weight around Bilgewater. If both of them obey her, then only the Four Great Legends would listen to you..."
"Hmph. So you were scared out of your wits and want to defect to Miss Fortune?"
Gangplank leaned forward, his gaze cruel, as if he might spring up and grab Hark by the throat at any moment.
"No, no..." Hark broke into a cold sweat, at a loss for how to explain himself.
"Those two won't stay aboard Miss Fortune's ship. They're only passing through." Gangplank leaned back in his chair.
"When she returns to Bilgewater, they definitely won't be on her ship. Otherwise, there'd be no explaining why Miss Fortune left Bilgewater as soon as the Bald Mage came aboard. She was clearly taking him somewhere."
"What about the man carrying the greatsword?" Hark wiped his face. "He's been aboard Miss Fortune's ship this whole time."
"Can't you see? The Mysterious Man with Greatsword and the Bald Mage are on the same level."
"He stayed aboard Miss Fortune's ship for so long because he was waiting for the Bald Mage. They're going to Ionia together!"
"It's no surprise people of their caliber know each other. I was just unlucky enough to attack Miss Fortune before they left."
Wasn't it because you completely misjudged how strong they were...? Hark grumbled inwardly, but didn't dare say it aloud.
"Once they disembark in Ionia, even if Miss Fortune steals the Leviathan, she still won't make up the difference between her forces and the Iron Gulch Gang!"
"It's easy to leave, but hard to come back. I have the geographical advantage. She won't have any supplies out there. Let's see how long she can last!"
Hark wasn't convinced. After witnessing power beyond the bounds of humanity, he felt that no matter how powerful Gangplank was, he was still just an ordinary man.
Seeing Gangplank so full of confidence, Hark decided to gradually cut ties with him until they were completely severed.
He was already certain that Miss Fortune would emerge victorious, and Gangplank would lose everything.
After seeing that battle with your own eyes, how can you still say that?
I can't do this alone. Right, I need to tell Crow and Old Blow about it.
The three of us can form an alliance. We're already about even with the Iron Gulch Gang in manpower; only our ships' fighting strength falls short of the Dreadnought.
But distancing myself from Gangplank is essential! Once Miss Fortune takes power, it'll be too late. Cutting my losses now is the best choice!
As Hark's thoughts wandered, Gangplank said slowly, "I hope you're smart enough to bury everything you saw and never tell anyone. Otherwise, you know what will happen to you."
"Ah, of course, of course. You know me. Of all the leaders of the big gangs, I'm the smartest. I know what the smart choice is."
Hark kept his expression calm as he agreed.
Right. What's the smartest choice? Obviously, Miss Fortune!
I refuse to believe your spies are in every corner of Bilgewater!
After leaving Gangplank's estate and returning to his headquarters, Hark ordered his men to deliver a letter to Crow and Old Blow.
They arranged to meet in an abandoned warehouse at the Slaughter Docks, but didn't say what the meeting was about.
"Sorry, Gangplank, but you have no idea what you're up against."
Hark sat in a dark room and muttered to himself.
Without those two monsters, Gangplank was doomed to lose to Miss Fortune.
Besides, even if those two monsters weren't there, who knew when they might come back?
With them backing her, Gangplank could forget about his kingly dreams. Not a chance!